National parks group rejects ecotourism plans

The National Parks Association of Queensland says it does not support the State Government's plan to build accommodation in national parks.

The Government plans to make changes to the Nature Conservation Act and allow tourists to lodge at many of Queensland's national parks and reserves.

Coordinator Paul Donatiu says the environment must be protected.

"The ideal situation is to have that level of infrastructure on the park boundary," he said.

"We have the park - it's there to protect the wildlife we all love and appreciate and particularly the landscapes that we want to see as well - but it's not doing anything to actually damage those beautiful places.

He says there are a lot of places in regional Queensland that actually act as gateway communities to national parks.

"We think it would be much better to actually support the regional economies of those communities rather than shift the actual infrastructure that allows tourists to visit our national parks into the parks themselves," he said.

Wildlife Queensland says the ecotourism plans must be closely monitored in order to protect the environment.

Spokesman Des Boyland says the prime purpose of national parks is to protect wildlife.

"Protection of the environment and the wildlife they house must come first," he said.

"By all means welcome tourism into it, but the tourism must be managed so it stands within the carrying capacity of the various sites they're visiting."

The director of tourism group EarthCheck, Stewart Moore, says Queensland is falling behind in ecotourism.

"It's not like Queensland is leading edge here, we're actually following what's best practice around Australia and the world," he said.

"We used to be seen as a market leader some 10 to 15 years ago both within Australia and overseas and I think we've lost our way."

He says the plans can work without damaging the environment.

"Ecotourism itself by its very nature is about ecologically sustainable outcomes, so yes it needs to be carefully planned but I do think the industry is mature enough now to be able to understand how that can happen," he said.